9th October 1816: The Under Secretary of State for the Home Office tells Sir Robert Peel that a freed Luddite is involved in reform activities in Lancashire

The Bolton magistrate Colonel Ralph Fletcher had written to the Home Office in late September informing them, amongst other things, that his informers were telling him that a freed Luddite, Thomas Pickup, was involved in the reform movement in Lancashire. JH Addington wrote to Sir Robert Peel, who had lobbied for Pickup to be freed, informing him of this information, starting some interesting correspondence on the matter:

Private

Whitehall 9th October 1816

Dear Sir,

As you interested yourself very strongly in favor of a Convict named "Thomas Pickup" who was tried and convicted at the Special Assizes held at Lancaster in May 1812, and sentenced to be transported, but who after three years confinement on board the Hulks, was liberated, principally on your intercession—I think it right that you should be informed that this man appears by a letter which has been received from an intelligent magistrate in Lancashire who is in Confidential communication with this office, to have been active in promoting a General Meeting, the tendency of which there is reason to suppose was of a mischievous nature.—From the interest you talk in obtaining “Pickups” release from the Hulks, I have felt it proper to apprize you of this Circumstance.—

I have [etc]

J. H. Addington.

[To] Sir Robert Peel [Esq]

1st June 1816: Colonel Fletcher asks the Home Secretary to authorise troops to be sent to Bolton

Bolton le moors 1 June 1816

My Lord

The magistrates of this Division having the apprehensive of some breach of the Public Peace, from the assemblages of numerous Bodies of Weavers that have taken place for several Evenings past, on the outskirts of this Town, deemed it expedient on the 30th ultimo, (as the Town had been without any military force whatever, since the reduction of the Local militia, and the Resignation of the yeomanry Troop of Cavalry) a request from the Officer commanding at the Barracks at Manchester, that a Troop of dragoons might be sent to, and remain quartered at, Bolton.

Lieut Col Holmes, commanding the 3d Dragoon Guards, in reply to our request, after assuring the magistrates of his readiness to meet their wishes, and promptly to give every aid to the several Authorities, says "it will be necessary under present circumstances, and particularly as no Riot has actually taken place, that should the magistrates deem it necessary to have Troops at Bolton, they should address themselves to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or the Right Honorable the Secretary at War"

Lt Col Holmes's letter having been brought to my House, during my absence yesterday, and one Post having been lost, through that circumstance, I take the Liberty to forward this Letter (without the Signature of the other magistrates, who reside at several miles distance, and whose Sentiments on the [illegible] are well known to myself) – and to request that your Lordship will be pleased to direct the Officer commanding at Manchester (Lt Col Holmes) to detach to the Town of Bolton a Troop of Dragoons—to be there quartered, as long as circumstances shall make such a measure necessary.

From the Communication made to Mr Beckett on the 27th ultimo, and also from the joint communication, which Mr Walker and I had the Honor to address to your Lordship on the 29th, I humbly trust, your Lordship will be fully apprized of the Reasons, on which the request of the magistrates was founded, and that it will meet with your Lordships approbation.

I have [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

To the Right Honorable
Lord Viscount Sidmouth

27th May 1816: Colonel Ralph Fletcher informs the Home Office of the distress of the Bolton Weavers

Bolton 27 May 1816

Dear Sir

Some the enclosed papers came to my hands several days ago, but I waited to have heard from Mr Warr—some further particulars of the Intention of the Seditious, before I made any communication.

The minds of the Weavers are in a considerable degree of Fermentation from the Lowness of Wages, and Scarcity of Employment (even on their low Wages) owing principally, to the Number of recent Failures, and also from the discharging of Workmen, by those who are yet solvent. Some Attempts have been made in this town, this day, and are now making to rouse the Feelings of the Weavers, by exhibiting a Shuttle covered with Crape. The Effect it may have this evening, I hope will not be serious; but should the Number of Weavers be discharged that, it is predicted, will be in the course of three Weeks in this Town & Neighbourhood, (10000 & upwards) the Consequence will, I fear, be alarming.

Tomorrow a Representation will be sent from this Place, to my Lord Sidmouth, by the magistrates, at the Suggestion of two (loyal) Delegates from the Weavers, in which will be contained their Statement of the Average Wages earned, and the Number out of Employ—and their Opinion as the best mode of alleviation, the Distress that prevails in the Cotton Trade.

I thought it necessary to apprise you of the Intention—and in Haste, for fear of losing a Post—

I remain

Dear Sir

Yours most sincerely

Ra: Fletcher

[To] John Beckett Esqr

5th March 1816: Ralph Fletcher forwards Adjutant Warr's letter to the Home Office

Bolton le moors 5th March 1816

Dear Sir

In consequence of your query, respecting Benefit Societies, I have procured from Adjt Warr the inclosed Report relating to the Application of the Friends of such Societies in this immediate Neighbourhood.

The members composing the Societies, of which he speaks, are principally Cotton Weavers, who, forming, by much, the largest Class of persons in this manufacturing part of the County of Lancaster, have never been all for any considerable length of time, and in any considerable Numbers, to turn out (or strike) from their Employ, so as materially thereby to affect the Interest of their masters. That period (alluded to by Mr Warr (1808) was their greatest Effort, when a Colonel Hanson later of Manchester, deluded many of them into a Tumultuous assembly – for which offence he was indicted and sentenced by the Court of King's bench, (I think) to Six months Imprisonment.

The Classes of persons in the manufacturers of this County, that have been most formidable to their Employers, by their Combination, are the Calico Printers and Cotton Spinners who labouring in large numbers together in [illegible] works or Cotton Factories under the same masters respectively – have for many years past been, almost every year in some Plan or other in a State of Combination against their respective Employers, and, in regard to the Calico Printers, will appear from the [Press] or of the correspondence [seized] lately in this Town, and which I doubt not you will have perused. How far Benefit Societies (I mean such as one sanctioned by the Act of the 35th yr of his Majesty) have increased the [facilities] of forming such Combinations, I am not fully informed so as to give a decided opinion; but although I frequently heard of Combinations amongst the Calico Printers, before the Enactment of the said Statute, yet as Sick Clubs or Friendly Societies prevailed in many parts of the Country before any Law gave them a Sanction, so it is probable that such Societies, before the said Law, might have been the Germ from which sprang originally such illicit Associations.

I intend to make some further Enquiries and should I draw any material Information, you shall be immediately furnished therewith.

I observe, from the public papers, that great pains are taken to raise a Cry against the Property Tax; but, excepting in Liverpool, I have not heard of any meeting being called in any part of the County against to petition against it. The respectable part of the people here, are is not averse to its continuance under the modifications proposed by Government, being fully aware that should this Tax cease, others must be imposed, which as they would probably bear more positively, would be far more grievous and burdensome.

It is hoped, here, that Government will not be deterred by any Clamour against it, the object of which is to drive his majesty's ministers to the Imposition of new Taxes, which will have a Tendency to diminish the popularity of their measures.

I have the Honor to remain
Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
Ra: Fletcher

To John Beckett Esq

16th December 1813: Colonel Fletcher sends a report and a claim for expenses to the Home Office

Bolton 16th December 1813

Dear Sir

So very little has occurred amongst the Seditious for these several months last past, deserving of any particular Notice, that I have not thought it necessary to forward any of the reports of the persons employed. The Jacobin Leaders, during the prosperous State of affairs, with which it hath pleased the Almighty to bless this Country, cannot find many followers, nor dare they now, (as, during Bonaparte's Career of Conquest, they used to do) openly express their malevolent Sentiments against their Country and its Government, for Fear of their immediate Chastisement, which would be likely to follow from the Hands of that order of men (the lowest) which in some Instances, they had before too successfully cajoled.

In Conversation with the persons employed, they confess, that the prosperous State of the Trade, enabling men, with common Industry, to earn a comfortable Subsistence for themselves and their Families, has considerably diminished their Hopes of Revolution, which yet, however, they affect to think will ultimately be accomplished, by the Catholics of Ireland. Indeed, whilst Bonaparte shall remain in Power, so long there will be Danger from his machinations, and particularly, in that Quarter of the United Kingdom.

In this part manufacturing part of Lancashire there is reason to apprehend that the mischievous Activity of the seditious will be principally exerted in promoting Turn Outs (what in Town you call Striking’s) for a further advance of Wages, in different Branches of the Manufactures. In matters of this Sort, men of this Description, generally take the Lead, thereby keeping up some consequence with the working manufacturers, who are but too prone to request those Persons as Benefactors, who even pretend to procure for them more Wages for their Labour.

B. has been informed by one John Green, a resident in Town, that a Committee frequently meets at the Fox & Goose, King Street, Seven Dials, and that this Committee corresponds with the Hampden Club, and various other Societies in different parts of the united Kingdom.

The money have advanced to the persons employed, from May 11th (to which period, my Accounts as per my Letter of 27 May, extended) to 13th December instant, is as under

L.F.    Time & Expences 31 Weeks 26.7.0
T        Time & Expences 31 Weeks 6.15.0
B        Time & Expences 31 Weeks 46.13.0
                                                                     79.15.0

Adjt Warr    Time & Expences same period 27.06.0
A B              Time & Expences same period 24.06.3
S. Senr         Time & Expences same period 4.7.6
S Junr           Time & Expences same period 4.4.0
Incidental Expences                                       2.4.6
                                                                           62.8.3

Total            £ 142.3.3

Four which Sum 142.3.3 I have taken the Liberty to draw upon you at Seven days Sight, payable to Mr Abraham Winterbottom.

I beg to return you my thanks for your kind attention, in sending me the Gazette Extraordinary of the glorious Victories obtained both by the Arms of His Majesty and those of His Allies. May Heaven continue to bless their Efforts, untill the dreadful Tyranny, founded on the Infidel Revolution of France shall fall to rise no more.

You will probably have seen the offer of the Bolton Regiment of Local militia under my Command, to extend its Services, according to the Bill (then pending) since passed into a Law. This was addressed to Lord Castlereagh, as the mover of the measure, and his Lordship has very politely returned his Thanks, observing at the same Time, that he will hand the Offer to Lord Viscount Sidmouth

with great Sincerity
I have [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

[To] John Beckett Esqr

7th March 1813: General Acland writes one of his final letters to General Maitland from Wakefield

Wakefield 7th March 1813.

My dear Sir.

The Reports receiv’d this day are most satisfactory I copy Raynes’s as the most intelligent, & confirming what I wrote to you about the arms on the 1st Inst.

This part of the country remains perfectly tranquil, I have not heard of the least disorder or outrage of any description.

I am inform’d by Mr. Scott from the depositions of persons who have been before him, that it appears as soon as the offenders were found guilty at York, those concern’d in Arms stealing, thought proper to get them out of the way by any means in their power—the Arms taken Clifton &c were thrown into Kirklees Mill Dam—

From every enquiry I have made, I cannot learn that there ever was a Depot of Arms in a greater number than half a dozen or Eight stand in a place —

Brigade Major Bullen return’d this day from a visit to Colonel Fletcher at Bolton — both Col. F. & Mr. Hulton state that part of the Country to be perfectly quiet — the Colonel says no persons have been to him to take the oath of Allegiance, but several from the neighbourhood of Chowbent, Worsley & Bolton have been to the other Magistrates & some few to Dr. Drake at Rochdale—

Mr. Ratcliffe set out on his Tour the beginning of next month, he is quite comfortable without his Guard & tells Bullen he is satisfied it will be a good measure to remove the Troops.

I really think we may do so with perfect safety & prudence, if you meet your approbation—& the sooner the Horse Artillery move to [illegible] & the Suffolk gets a Route the better the more if it is done by the [degrees] the less it will be thought of & every one I talk with is of this opinion.

I am very anxious to hear from you as to my disposal, I wish to be in Town after General Grey comes back, & if it can be so arranged that I do not return, it will not only be gratifying but convenient—as long as any thing was to be done & you remain’d I was perfectly content, but now every thing is quiet, I shall be glad to get nearer to my friends, for with a limited income this campaign has been expensive, which however I never regard as long as I can be [useful] & I repeat I can only be so at home as my health is not equal to active Service abroad.

Wroth: P Acland

[To] Lt General
The Rt Honble
T. Maitland
London

13th July 1812: Samuel Whitbread & Henry Brougham raise more concerns about Colonel Fletcher in the House of Commons

On Monday 13th July 1812, there was further debate in the House of Commons about the government's proposed Preservation of the Peace Bill to give magistrates extensive powers. Once again, Whig MPs used the session to express concerns about the actions and methods of Colonel Ralph Fletcher. Extracts of their contributions follow:

Samuel Whitbread

…As to the persons who had blackened their faces, and disfigured themselves for the purpose of concealment, and had attended the meeting on Deanmoor, near Manchester, it turned out that ten of them were spies sent out by the magistrates; and the only other man present, who was similarly disguised and with fire-arms, was one Hurst, who was now under sentence of transportation. These spies were the very ringleaders of the mischief, and incited the people to acts which they would not otherwise have thought of. Such a practice should not go on; and he would never consent to entrust new powers to magistrates who had thus grossly misconducted themselves. The hon. member for Yorkshire had ascribed the evil to certain inflammatory and seditious publications; but he, and other gentleman who thought with him, had in the same breath, declared, that work, and a lower price of provisions, were likely to render the people tranquil. The hon. gentleman's mind seemed in a state of alarm and consternation; and, of course, his ideas were not likely to be clear.

…It had been stated, too, that these outrages were directed by men of high condition, nay, he had the affidavit of a man tried at Lancaster, to shew that a person had come to him in the prison, with a view to extort from the criminal, a confession that he (Mr. Whitbread) was the very individual who instigated the riots? What was the fact? Why that some of the inhabitants of Bolton being unemployed, wrote to him, asking his advice, whether they should petition parliament; and, in answer, he wrote them word that he thought they had better state the cause of their grievances. This letter was made the ground of presumption, that he was at the head of the rioters! So besotted was the imagination of some of the alarmists, that an idle rumour for some time obtained credit, that the duke of York was about to advocate the cause of these deluded people. Would the House believe that so ridiculous a supposition could enter the heads of any respectable set of men? These ideas of plots were ridiculous in one point of view, but base in another; because there was too much reason to believe that the absurdities had been propagated by some of the magistrates: and this made him come to the conclusion not to grant the magistracy any of the powers provided in this Bill. A magistrate who had heard that a man of respectability in his county was named in the committee as one of the instigators of the riots, though not before suspected, took occasion to promulgate his name throughout the county—this person was a Presbyterian. He could not avoid entering his protest against the Bill, when he saw the operation of the rescinding of the Orders in Council—that the potteries were fully employed, that the men were returning to their work contented and happy, and at Nottingham and other places were also tranquil.

Henry Brougham

…He should now state a few strong instances of the truth of what he had advanced. Bolton-in-the-Moors, in Lancashire, a place which contained a population of about seventeen thousand souls, there were about three thousand persons exposed to the most severe pressure of distress; and in the vicinity of that place, the practice of twisting-in, according to the cant phrase by which the unlawful swearing was designated, was very common. It was by some of the infatuated of this district that the assembly on Dean Moor, of which the House had heard, was composed—that meeting at which spies, paid for their services, had attended—spies, who were the only persons there who appeared in disguise—spies who could not screw their courage up to a pitch such as would enable them to assert that the meeting was composed of more than forty persons, of which number they themselves composed a part, in the ratio of twenty-five per cent. It was worthy of remark that in this place no steps had been taken to diminish, by charitable donations, the sufferings of the poor. This seat of distress, then, became the focus of disturbances in Lancashire.

…He must say, that he had another very strong objection to granting these extraordinary powers to the magistrates; and that was, that he suspected some of the magistrates as men not fit to be entrusted with such powers, and likely to abuse them. In this he alluded merely to Lancashire, not to Yorkshire, and principally to that one magistrate, a clergyman, whose representations appeared to have had so much influence on the Report of the committee. His correspondence was so inflated with fear and fancy, and evinced so much precipitation and bigotry, that he could not conceive him a man of sound judgement; and in a court of justice, he would doubt any fact stated by such a visionary. In one of his letters he talked of the restoration of peace “when the present generation of disturbers should be swept into oblivion.” Although, from his expression he should consider him a man of sound judgement, he considered his acts as of much more consequence. He had absolutely charged with a capital felony a most respectable dissenting clergyman, whom he asserted to have been present, aiding and abetting at the destruction of some mills; and when afterwards he was called upon for his authority for so saying, his answer was, that he had the story from a dying man. He must take the liberty to doubt that the dying man ever did say such a thing; and even if he did, the assertions of men at the gallows were known to be very bad evidence indeed. He could give other statements illustrative of his preceding positions; nay, in giving them he could go to greater length than the hon. member had done in the speech which he had just delivered. The next case to which he would allude was that of a Methodist preacher. From his statement, it appeared, that while preaching in the centre of his flock, one Saturday evening, light was observed in his dwelling by one of these useful gentleman, the spies, who happened to be travelling that way. This individual instantly gave notice of a nightly meeting, and but a very little time had elapsed before the poor parson was surrounded by eight of the Scotch Greys, who led him off in a most indecorous and insulting manner. Now what was the consequence of such a proceeding? Why, that by this unnecessary interference, the minds of this clergyman's flock became irritated; they now were enemies who before dwelt in peace. But the motive of this preceding doubtless was an antipathy to the sect, or the expectation that it would not be unacceptable to higher persons. The sect, however, had proved themselves lovers of peace. The charitable association before alluded to, had offered its assistance to a particular place in one of those disturbed districts. The answer was, that the distress was so extensive that the whole fund of the association could not give the required relief; that it resulted from the total want of work; that no disorders whatever had taken place, notwithstanding all this distress; but this latter circumstance, they said, was to be attributed to the happy prevalence of the principles of Methodism.—Yet the men professing these principles of peace were to be insulted and disturbed; and those who so insulted and disturbed them were to have more extensive powers! A man of the name of Haynes, who unfortunately lived in one of those disturbed neighbourhoods, was actually compelled to join one of the unlawful meetings, and to take the oath. This man was impeached by the spies who attended the meeting. He was not rich enough to employ a counsel; and, if he had, such counsel could not have addressed the jury on his behalf. The jury, however, on his own plain, unvarnished, simple statement of his case, and from the activity and bustle which they saw among those spies, in the court and about the jury-box, acquitted the man; and saved him from the machinations of these attendants on the magistrates. There was another mischief, also, to which the unhappy people in those disturbed districts were liable, and which the House should be careful how it enlarged the means of increasing. This was the danger of insulting a spy. These gentry had of late been raised to such extraordinary consequence, that to insult one of them was scarcely one degree removed from the crime of insulting a magistrate. A poor schoolmaster had been taken up and punished “for insulting one of his Majesty’s spies.” A woman of the lower order was met in a public street by one of those spies, who taunted her with her husband's conduct; and on her expressing her resentment of his unmanly behaviour in rather warm terms, she was seized, taken before a magistrate, and punished, for insulting this spy. But why was all this done; why did such cases occur? They resulted from active zeal of pettifogging magistrates, in the hope of recommending themselves to the attention of government. A late right hon. friend of his, whose loss to the House, as well as he himself, would long deplore (Mr. Windham) had never mentioned this race (for he talked of them as if they were vermin) without expressing sentiments of disgust, contempt, and mistrust. He meant the meddling, the over-busy magistrates, by this description. To these men, however, the House were called upon to give new powers. As to the spies, they were busy because they thought they ought to do something for money; for certainly no one would suppose, that they took up this calling from mere love for it. No one would believe that they were amateurs, especially when it was considered, that they were paid a very great price for their services, some of them 30s. others 40s. and some two guineas and a half a week, besides all their expenses. It was not to be wondered at that the magistrates were their strenuous supporters. If the member for the university of Cambridge wished to know what became of the secret service money, he might now guess how hundreds went; for how great a sum must go to pay this immense troop of spies! And when wagons were travelling about the nothern counties loaded with money to pay for this host, was it nothing to have the disposal of it,—was it to be supposed that all this money passed through certain hands without some of it sticking to their fingers? The House should also consider the vast source of patronage it created, and how that patronage might be made particurly available almost on the eve of a general election. These spies had endeavoured, on various occasions, to induce unhappy man who had been arrested, to make allegations against the highest and best of characters. He instanced the name of the member for Bedford, and himself, in comparison, he would allow, a very humble character. They, however, from their station in life, might smile at the malice and baseness of these miscreants; but persons who were not so happily situated, and who lived unfortunately in disturbed neighbourhoods, were liable to be exposed to the most dreadful injustice, and frequently to ruin. A manufacturer was constantly exposed to the hardship of having his property broken in upon, and his grounds and premises ridden over and taken possession of by parties of Scotch Greys, if any one chose to go to a magistrate and say, that in the manufactory there were suspicious persons. These spies were the active agents of the magistrates, and the House should be cautious how they enlarged powers which might be used to such mischievous and oppressive purposes. In one instance a poor fellow had been arrested as a rioter, who was in the employment of a manufacturer of a very good character and large property, who had been to him a most generous and kind master. As soon as possible after he was in their power, the spies applied to him with an assurance of “drawing him through,” if he would inform them of any thing his master had ever said against the government. He answered them, that he had never heard any thing of the kind. “What,” said they, “did you never hear him say any thing against the King?”—No. “Nor against any of the royal family?”—“No.” At length, after assailing him in various ways, they offered to “draw him through,” if he would say that his master told him, if he (the man) would take against the King, he (the master) would back him. The poor fellow burst into tears at being supposed capable of so base a return to the kindness of so good a master, and resolutely refused all their offers. But this shewed what base arts and means had been resorted to; and it was, in his opinion, too great a trust to enlarge powers, and trust in the hands of a set of men who had already shown themselves too busy in invading the rights and privileges of Englishman, their fellow subjects.

10th July 1812: Preservation of the Public Peace Bill introduced to the House of Commons

On Friday 10th July 1812, the government responded to the report of the Committee of Secrecy into the Luddite disturbances by introducing the Preservation of the Public Peace Bill, which aimed to give magistrates greater powers, in particular to search for and confiscate arms from the public.

Two MPs in particular - Samuel Whitbread and Sir Francis Burdett - used the opportnity of discussing the Bill to raise concerns about the conduct of the Bolton Magistrate, Colonel Ralph Fletcher. Extracts of their contributions on this subject follow:

Samuel Whitbread

…A great deal had been said of the meeting on Dean Moor, on the night of the 19th of April, immediately previous to the burning of the mill; but of the 40 persons who were present on the moor, it appeared from the evidence of the colonel and adjutant of the Bolton Local Militia, that 10 were local militiamen, disguised with blackened faces, who described themselves as having passed two by two, before the general of the assembly, whose name was Hurst, and who, except the 10 militia-men, was the only person in disguise there. He could not but testify his dislike of this system of espionage. It appeared that one of these militia-men, in the effervescence of his zeal, endeavoured to instigate another person to burn the work-house, who immediately said, “If we burn the work-house, we shall burn a number of poor people who are in it.” “Oh, the devil care for that,” replied the militia-man, “let us only do all the mischief we possibly can.” It appeared, therefore, that these misguided people have been frequently induced by such means to go greater lengths than they would otherwise have thought of. Here were men employed as spies, abetting and inciting the multitude to daring and desperate acts of violence; and on account of these acts, the House was applied to for the purpose of arming the government with new laws, and investing them with extraordinary powers hitherto unknown to the constitution.

Sir Francis Burdett

...He was informed by a gentleman of great credibility, who came from the neighbourhood of Houghton Mills, that the account of that case had been very much exaggerated. This gentleman he had recommended to go before the committee; but they refused to receive any evidence but what coincided with their own views. Of the forty persons who met on the moor, ten of whom were spies, twelve were afterwards convicted, a pretty considerable proportion. As to the executions at Lancaster, there were many at the recital of which he was shocked. Women executed for stealing potatoes; and children, as he might call those of sixteen years old. Executions of this nature appear to him much more likely to produce disgust than any beneficial example. Indeed, if those cases had been laid before the Prince Regent, he had little doubt but that his humanity would have prompted him to extend his mercy to them, as he had done to many who had been convicted at Chester, where but two persons were executed. The hon. member for Yorkshire attributed those disturbances, not to the want of employment, or high price of provisions, but merely to political causes; and yet, when they recollected the evidence given before the Committee on the Orders in Council, stated the utmost degree of human misery to prevail among the poor manufacturers, there was no need to look to other causes to account for the disturbances.

7th July 1812: Colonel Fletcher & his spy, John Stones, observe the 'Manchester 38' in Gaol

In his account of the arrest and trial of the 'Manchester 38', John Knight recounts a chilling episode that took place at the New Bailey prison in Salford on either Tuesday the 7th or Wednesday 8th July 1812:

On the 7th or 8th July, Higgins, the gaoler, accompanied by a magistrate of Bolton, named Ralph Fletcher, and a notorious character, of the name of Stones, came into each yard, and ordered in every yard the prisoners belonging to the thirty-eight, to separate themselves from the other, and then viewed our persons minutely, for a considerable time, with earnest attention.

This was no doubt aimed at fixing any of the '38' that John Stones had come across during his infiltration of the underground workers' organisations during the last few months.

30th June 1812: Colonel Fletcher writes to the Home Office with news of plots here, there & everywhere

Bolton 30th June 1812

Dear Sir

The following is a copy of a Letter which I received several days ago from Mr Higgin the Gaoler of Lancaster Castle — The Information appeared to me important and conceiving that some further disclosure might be made by Samuel Ratcliffe (one of the Convicts now under Sentence of Transportation administering an Unlawful Oath to Serjeant Holland Bowden) I requested Mr Higgin to elicit from him (if he could) all the Information possible. —Mr Higgin has sent me Word that he will take every opportunity of complying with my request – and it has been under an Expectation of such further Intelligence that I have delayed to transmit this Copy.

I find Ratcliffe has not been sent off with the other convicts but still remains at Lancaster — and for this I presume will meet his Lordship's Approbation—if it has not already been signified to Mr Higgin—

Copy—

Lancaster - Castle 15 June 1812

Dear Sir

I have had some Conversation with Samuel Ratcliffe one of the Convicts now under Sentence of Transportation from Bolton.

He tells me that the Gentlemen concerned in the late present treasonable practices are extremely cautious in their Conduct. After they have held a meeting it is not known which of them forwards the Intelligence to the next organized place. For Instance, if any new Information is to be sent from Bolton to Preston, the papers go through several Hand in [illegible] before they are given to the real messenger, who is called a Delegate. He finds the papers by going to a Field where there is an appointed Mark. With the papers. With the papers he finds a Counterpart Card, which he takes with him to another Field near Preston where he finds another Mark, and the Counterpart of his Card. Here he leaves the Papers until they are fetched away by a Stranger in the night. Next night he resorts to the same Place and finds the answer. The meetings are held every 3 or 4 Weeks, and if a Delegate is detected or suspected, the Sign, Countersign and Counterpart Card are immediately altered. He says there is a meeting held at Manchester for the District, and a large Fund for the maintenance of active members.—From what he has heard he believes there are many Thousand Pikes already made of a particular Construction. The Pike Part is called the Drill because it is like the Pointril of a Blacksmiths drill. The Crescent with two Edges is called Sniggar. The Whole Pike consists of 3 Parts and can be taken in Pieces. It fits together by a Socket with a Pin & Screw.—It is a general Rule never to keep any Books or Pikes in a House longer than Part of a night for Fear of a Search, therefore every thing is left out of Doors.

He supposes the printed papers are done by what are called the Opposition Printers in every Town—no name is placed in the usual Way. All Information is conveyed from Town to Town by the Delegate messengers. He believes the Union or Combination began in London, goes through Nottingham and from thence to Manchester and Carlisle. Small towns lying between principal places are not yet organized, only some of the Trades in them have taken the first Oath. There is a second Obligation taken by superior Persons. When a list of Names is transmitted there is a mark opposite the Name to denote the Profession or Trade. Ratcliffe has mentioned several Names, that are very familiar to you, apparently respectable Characters in your Town, such as Crook - Taylor - Hartley - Belshaw - Hulme and Cross. Should there be any thing that will be new in this account to Mr Hay, your Chairman, you may forward this Letter to him – you must excuse this Scrawl, for I have been employed all Day in sending Letters to my Friends in the House of Commons in Vindication of my own Character. I intend to send another Party of Convicts by Coopers Coach on Friday next—

I am
Dear Sir
Yours very respectfully
Signed—John Higgin

To Ralph Fletcher Esqr

Some of the Persons named above, as connected with the Seditious I am told are under some degree of alarm — Taylor is a doctor of Physic and during his academic Studies at Edinburgh in the early part of the French Revolution held such violent language against Government and in Favor of an Invitation of the French, as drew upon him the course of the [Superior] and had nearly caused his Expulsion — He (as was also his late Father) is of the Socinian School, and holds [deep], on every occasion when not deterred by prudential Considerations—both the established Religion & Government of the Country to the Hatred of the people—He is connected with the Edinburgh Review—and there is reason to believe corresponds with Brougham. The enclosed Note from R: Needham informs me that Taylor & Crook were collecting Evidence—to form the Subject of a Motion to Parliament I am not surprized at the Intelligence as knowing it to be the System of that desperate Faction to exhibit, as far as within lies—all Magistrates & others in Authority to the odium of the People—both Taylor & Crook (his Brother in Law) attended the last Special Assizes—and through them came the Money for the Expence of the Defence of the Prisoners. Hartley is a Printer for the Party – as described by Ratcliffe — Belshaw I know nothing of — Hulme is the most notorious – having proceeded in Encouragement of his Servants by seditious Language to a Length little short of Treason.—It is supposed that some of these persons are on their Way to Town at the Call of Mr Brougham.

Cross is an attorney of this Town & in considerable Business, In the Employment of the Party he may have gone certain Lengths but was not suspected by me of having engaged in the Business con amore untill Ratcliffe assertions as contained in the letter.

On the 26 instant I sent a Note to General Maitland acquainting him that Six of the militia quartered at Mottram a Village in Cheshire about 4 miles distant from Ashton Under line (in Lancashire) had been twisted in, the Sunday before, on a moor in the Neighbourhood on the Sunday morning before. The information came from B and he assures me it may be depended upon—I have no doubt but the General will cause that Detachment to be watched.

The Manchester Luddites are busied presumably with raising money for the Support of the 37 men lately committed to Lancaster and for the maintenance of their Families. I am not without hopes that the Extent of the Sums necessary for these Purposes will give our People a good opportunity of discovering the Sources from whence the pecuniary aid must flow.—Contributions from the Weavers cannot I think be great—The other Trades are more organized—such as Spinners Taylors &c &c – and probably something considerable may be derived from those Sources;—but I cannot help concluding that there is a Secret Fund—supplied by aid from from Quarters yet undiscovered.

B is confident that in the neighbourhood of Stockport Ashton - Mottram &c the Luddites are possessed of considerable numbers of Stands of Arms—and that many of them are acquainted with military Discipline—many of the Delegates that have visited B. from the Country before mentioned seem eager to make a Start (as they term a Firing) before the Trial of those lately committed from Manchester should take place—and the Intelligence derived from others seems to point out the projected Rising – after the Hay-Harvest.—But unless the disaffected in Ireland shall lead the Way in the Rebellion I trust the Luddites in England will not dare to come forward in the open Field—The Obstacles to Revolution are yet considerable – and the Parliamentary Pioneers of Faction must first level these Obstacles before their Rebellion can be waged with any prospect of Success—It is their Plan & will incessantly be attempted to [prostrate] the Barriers of the Constitution—considering wisely enough though in a bad Cause—that the Capture of the Citadel will be sooner & more easily accomplished by breaking Ground & maintaining Batteries at the shortest distance from it.—

I remain [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

To John Beckett Esqr

23rd June 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher informs the Home Office about links between Huddersfield & Manchester

Bolton 23 June 1812

Dear Sir

The following Extract from B’s weekly report I think it proper to transmit

“Subscriptions are set on foot to relieve the 38 men committed from Manchester last Week — and also for the Relief of their Families. The Citizens say that the ablest Council in the Kingdom are returned to defend them — amongst whom are Scarlett—Williams—Brougham & Halley.

A Delegate from Glasgow past through Manchester on Tuesday 17th instant he is for London and says that the People think the time long & some of them are impatient for a Start whilst others relax in their Efforts as believing the Business cannot be done this Season—They have (taken in 40 miles round Glasgow) 56,000 men who can be depended on. He lamented the Blow given to the Cause by the Manchester Apprehensions & Commitments, as the then intended Petitioning might have united the Whole of the Country. He declined giving his address—but his Name is Robinson. He is about 5 feet 4 Inches high—dark complexion His nose rather sharp, about 40 years of age—dressed in Blue, with short Boots. He expects to return in Twelve days intending to pass through Leeds and to stop a day or two there if possible, and should cause Information to be sent to our Town such as is necessary to be known.”

B acquaints me that the Huddersfield Luddites—according to their Delegates report – have 300 Stand of arms in one depot and 225 Stand in another – also 9 Blunderbusses – and a vast (or abundance) of Pistols, which last they keep by them for an Emergency. When a General meeting takes place among them, he said, it consists of Captains of Hundred – and Commanders of Thousands—and these when sent on any Delegacy are sworn to Secrecy & to do their duty to the best of their power—There men are regularly classed in a thousand each—and Seven of such Classes to constitute a Legion—They (viz the Huddersfield Luds) will pay their Subscriptions towards defraying the Expenses of defending the Prisoners at Lancaster. B is directing his endeavours to discover the Depots before alluded to—and untill I receive his particular Communication in this respect – I think it will be unnecessary to mention it to General Maitland, but as soon as any probable Situation where these arms are collected can be ascertained I will lose not a moment in making the Information known to him according to your directions as contained in your last—I conveyed Job Fletchers declaration to the General on Saturday last—

My principal motive for troubling yourself this Communication – was to describe Robinson the Glasgow delegates person that if he could be recognized & watched to his hiding place in London it might be possible to grasp at the persons who compose the superior Committee there & their place of meeting

I have [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

To John Beckett Esqr

11th June 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher writes to the Home Office about supporters of the Luddites

Bolton le moors - 11 June 1812

Dear Sir/

Since my return from the Special Assizes at Lancaster—the Training of such of the Companies of the Bolton Local under my Command as had not completed their Duty before in consequence of the Call of the Magistrates & Deputy Lieutenantcy – hath so much occupied my Time & attention in addition to magistrates Duties—as to have hitherto prevented me from writing.

The results of the Trials Government will have received from other Hands—it appeared to me and to all those I conversed with at Lancaster that the Evidence as given in Court – both in the Capital Charges & those not Capital would have fully justified a Jury in finding many others guilty, even in relation to those committed from this place—but in relation to those men committed from Manchester charged with setting fire to Mr Burtons House at Middleton – then acquitted excited almost universal Indignation and the Foreman (Mr Ewart a Merchant of Liverpool and Roscowite) who persuaded the other eleven of the Jury to join him in such acquittal – was himself (as I am credibly informed,) so stung with regret at the Verdict – that he decamped from Lancaster the Morning after without asking Leave—The Consequences of this Verdict might have been of the most fatal Kind – had not the Grand Jury found another Bill for a misdemeanor for the same offence which will have the Effect to detain them unless they find Sureties to buy the Traverse.

Four for Capital offences & Ten for simple Felony committed from Bolton received the appropriate Sentences – Several that we had strong Evidence against were never taken — and a person of the Name of Lyon against whom a Bill of Indictment had been found for attending an unlawful meeting on the 8 April – & who had found Bail, traversed and will be tried at some future assizes—He, it is, who spoke to General Lud, in relation to finding mercy “that on application to him by 3 of the Committee he would take them to an independent Gentleman who would furnish money for so noble a Cause.”—I observed that there is a considerable anxiety in some of the disaffected respecting this Lyon—& I suspect that they entertain Fears of his Babbling. It is of Importance in my opinion that his Prosecution should be carried on at the proper time—The Witnesses for the Crown–both these employed by us previously and those who only came forwards after being apprehended – exceeded my Expectations—and one Hulme (a Partner in the Bleaching House of Cooke & Hume) seems strongly implicated in the Guilt of formenting these seditious movements—He has discharged from his Employ all that have given Evidence for the Crown—and this will I trust lead to further discoveries of his Transactions—He once (as formerly commented) sat as Chairman of a seditious meeting at Manchester—and about 2 years ago on occasion of some discontent amongst the Working Bleachers employed by him – he told them that he would raise their Wages 3 [pence] a week if they would stand by him and they would together could put an end to all Taxation

On the subject of General Lud – which was much talked of by his Workmen in his presence – he told them they might go to Arthur Holden who would take them to him (General Lud) – and several went accordingly to Holden who took them to nocturnal meeting at which several were sworn – or twisted.

I enclose you Bs last report—I believe he is now at Liverpool on a Visit to the Liverpool delegate—probably something important may be learnt from that Quarter

I also inclose an address to Cotton Weavers delivered to Stones by one Beckett (a person who has escaped) previous to his administering to him the oath. I am not quite certain that I may not have transmitted a Copy before.

I also enclose you Adjutant James Warrs Account of Expenses incurred by him, which although they may appear considerable, I trust you will think well laid out.

I return, as you requested, Mr Chippendales Letter. We have corresponded on the occasion, and I apprehend the person he alludes to should he come forward, may carry useful Information; at present he is on a journey and nothing decisive can be arranged untill his return and then I will communicate what may seem deserving of Notice

In respect to the effect of which the late Prosecutions may have on the minds of the disaffected, I apprehend they will be to a very considerable degree salutary, if followed up in the adjoining West Riding of Yorkshire. All accounts concur in stating the dangerous Nature of the Proceedings in & about Huddersfield—Mr Radcliffe, a magistrate residing in the Neighbourhood, and who was Foreman of the Lancaster Grand Jury, informs me that the Seditious have succeeded to that Degree to intimidate the Loyal Part of that Neighbourhood - that no Witness chose to come forward with Testimony

This is a dreadful State of Society and whose remedy to apply does not appear easy to discover; but should the Seizure of Arms by the Rebels proceed I fear that nothing short of martial Law will avail in that neighbourhood to put a stop to such daring Outrages.

In this Town of Bolton the Jacobins mutter Revenge against the Witnesses and some anonymous Papers and been placarded to the same Effect, but I trust they will be prevented from putting their Threats in Execution; and if we discover the authors of them we shall certainly require good Bail or otherwise commit them.

I have taken the Liberty to draw for the Balance of the [illegible] account—in a Bill at Seven days Sight payable to Mr Abraham Winterbottom. And I have the Honor to be

[etc]Ra: Fletcher

To John Beckett Esqr

7th June 1812: The Manchester spy 'B' meets a Liverpool delegate and hears of soldiers taking the Luddite oath in Mottram

Colonel Fletcher's spy in Manchester, 'B' aka John Bent, submitted another report ending on Sunday 7th June 1812.

On 2nd June, Bent had been present at a meeting of committee of trades at the Elephant public house on Tib Street. The resolutions that had been published in a handbill were to be published in the Statesman newspaper, and the group had sent money to facilitate this. The next meeting would be due the following Thursday at 8 p.m.

On 4th June, Bent had met a delegate from Liverpool and they spent 2 hours discussing activity in Manchester. The Liverpool delegate thought that petitioning for peace and parliamentary reform was not bold enough. He revealed that the Liverpool committee had links with Ireland and could call on 4,000 men in the area should they be needed. The delegate was called John Bates and worked at the Salthouse Dock - Bent invited him to the next committee meeting, his intention being to become involved with the Liverpool Committee.

Although the Manchester Committee met that night, little business was conducted as they were still awaiting the resolutions being printed in the Statesman. The following day, Committee members tried to get a local printer to put them into a handbill - both Cowdroy & Wheeler refused, but a printer called Plant agreed to print 1000 copies.

At 1.00 p.m. on Sunday 7th, Bent attended a meeting at the Gate pub on Ashton Road, which was attended by 37 other delegates from towns and villages around Manchester. There was talk of a general strike by weavers for the 10th, but Bent played his part of a true reactionary in denying any plans existed and called for sticking to the program of petitioning and peaceable behaviour. Bent's call was met with some resistance - some delegates pointed out the people could not bear the oppression that existed and would not do so whilst they were able to take action. A delegate from Mottram said that they had gone as far as succeeding to twist-in members of the Scotch Greys, with one delegate going to their barracks for this purpose, and that members of the local Watch & Ward Committee had openly chastised the Greys for drinking with local people.

Bent related that the general feeling was that local committees would continue to meet and further their own plans whatever was resolved in Manchester.

The next meeting of the Committee of trades was scheduled for 8.00 p.m. on Thursday 11th June at the Elephant on Tib Street.

27th May 1812: The trials of the Bolton oath givers at Lancaster Special Commission

At 9.00 a.m. on  Wednesday 27th May 1812, 12 men stood trial for aiding in the administering of an unlawful oath to Sergeant Holland Bowden of the Bolton Local Militia, at Great Bolton on the night of April 19th 1812.

The principal witnesses at the trial were the undercover members of the Bolton Local Militia, the 'blackfaces' that had appeared during the meeting on Dean Moor that evening. Although their names were left out of the newspaper reports of the trials, from notes of the trials in the Home Office documents we know the names of some of them. A couple are familiar - i.e. Colonel Fletcher's chief spy, John Stones, and his father Simon Stones. The others are: Corporal William Orrell, Corporal Lawrence Harwood. Private Abraham Kaye, John Wood & Peter Grundy.

The evidence they gave at the trial paints a vivid picture, but contrasts starkly in many respects from the evidence given 5 months later by others present at the meeting when they 'un-twisted' themselves before the authorities. Our account of the events of April 19th is drawn from these sources and not the trial account.

Fletcher's spies attested that they were sent to Dean Moor by their commanding officer, Adjutant Warr, to observe what happened and arrived at 11.00 p.m. to find 100 others there. Before they were allowed to join everyone, they were challenged by a man armed with a rudimentary pike for the password and offered the correct counter-sign.

The spies attested that John Hurst (37) was 'General Ludd' on the evening, and conducted the meeting. They said he had his face whitened and was armed with a pistol and a kind of Halberd. They said it was he who calmed the group down when there was an alarm that cavalry were approaching, and outlined the plans to go to Chowbent, first to meet with others and then to proceed to Westhoughton.

The trial was largely concerned with the oath being forcibly administered later to the Bolton Militia Sergeant, Holland Bowden, when the group came across him at Hulton Lane Ends. The spies attested that Joseph Greenhalgh (22) had said of Bowden "He's nothing but a spy, he's a sergeant in the Bolton Local Militia; damn him, I know him, either twist him or puff him (i.e. shoot him)". The spies also said that a hatchet was held over Bowden's head whilst the oath was administered to him.

The others accused at the trial were: Christopher Medcalfe (41), James Brierley (30), Henry Thwaite (24), Thomas Pickup (51), Samuel Radcliffe (35 - who had been acquitted of being involved in the Westhoughton incident at the trial the day before),  Joseph Clement, William Gifford, John Hays, Peter Topping, and James Knowles.

With Bowden being unable to identify any of the prisoners as to having been present that night, the identification of the accused was left Stones and his men. That they centralised the role of the accused and minimised their own role and involvement was to be expected. After the trial concluded at 7.00 p.m., the jury took just 30 minutes to find Medcalfe, Brierley, Thwaite, Pickup, Hurst, Radcliffe and Greenhalgh guilty. The other men were acquitted.

25th May 1812: The Lancaster Special Commission commences

Baron Alexander Thomson (left) & Sir Simon le Blanc (right)

On Monday 25th May 1812, the special Assize to try those committed for trial during the recent disturbances in Lancashire - a Special Commission - commenced at Lancaster Castle, where the prisoners were also held.

The Judges presiding over the trial - Baron (Sir Alexander) Thomson and Sir Simon le Blanc - had arrived at 6.00 p.m. on the previous Saturday, having left London on Thursday 21st May, and were met by the High Sheriff, Edward Greaves, before proceeding to formally open the court on the same day. The Leeds Mercury of 23rd May informed that Mr Justice Chambre and Mr Baron Graham were also present.

Monday began with the swearing-in of the Grand Jury, who were as follows:

Joseph Radcliffe, of Royton, Esq. Foreman,
Isaac Blackburne, of Bank-Hall,
John Birley, of Blackburn,
Thomas Drinkwater, Irwell-House,
William Farrington, of Shawe-Hall,
Henry Fielden, of Witton,
Ralph Fletcher, of Tonge-with-Haulgh,
Thos. Gillibrand, of Chorley,
Nathanial Gould, of Salford,
Wm. Hulton, of Hulton,
Wm. Horton, of Rochdale,
Strethill Harrison, of Lancaster,
Wm. Jones, of Broughton,
John Lever, of Alkrington,
Thomas Leyland, of Walton,
Edmund Rigby, of Ellel Grange,
Benjamin Rawson, of Darley,
Miles Sandys, of Graithwaite,
John Silvester, of Chorley, and
John Simpson, of Hope, Esquire.

The foreman of the Jury was Joseph Radcliffe, the Magistrate from the West Riding who had his hands full dealing with Luddites there. His pre-eminent position these trials is a fact rarely mentioned by historians. Also notably present was Colonel Ralph Fletcher. Even allowing for the wide differences between the modern trial system and that of 200 years ago, it would be difficult to pick a more prejudiced and partial jury than this.

The Lancaster Gazette of 6th June 1812 gave a brief, summarised account of the Judges' charge to the Jury:

An admirable Charge was given to them, by Baron Thomson, in which he stated the law which applied to the different cases which would come before them. Persons breaking into warehouses, mills, or shops, and setting fire to them, or stealing or destroying any goods therein, were guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy. Persons guilty of administering or aiding and consenting to the administering of unlawful oaths, were liable to seven years transportation. He concluded with exhorting them to use their utmost endeavours, in their respective neighbourhoods, to restore and promote the public tranquillity.

The Court was then adjourned to the following morning, when the trials would commence in earnest

21st May 1812: Colonel Fletcher seeks help from the Home Office for his spy, John Stones

Bolton 21st May 1812

Dear Sir/

I feel much obliged by your Favor communicating Mr. Ryders Approval of my Offer of Assistance and authorising me to incur such reasonable Expence as may be necessary for giving Effect to the Prosecution of those committed to Lancaster on Charges of Riot – Sidition &c —. (The Testimony of one of our main Informers [John Stones] may, in the opinion of Messrs Stoner & Ravald – Clerk to the Majistrates here) be necessary to convict some of the most notorious Offenders … And therefore his Information has been taken amongst others & was one of those transmitted to you, 15th.—

His Father – Simon Stones – who was the Leader of those Ten Men – amongst whom some others of our Confidants were introduced to the Meeting of the 19th April – has since the Committals to Lancaster become suspected, & the suspicion has been extended also to his Son—who as he resides in one of the most siditious Parts of this Neighbourhood has requested to have his Family removed to a Place of greater Safety – which has been promised on our part & will be carried into Effect during his absence at the Assizes.—We have charged Messrs Stoner & Ravald – to represent to Mr. Hobhouse, that in those Cases where the Proof is likely to be sufficient without Stones’s Evidence to omit him & only make use of his Testimony where absolutely necessary.—

It is hoped that Government will deem his Services deserving of some remuneration – even should his giving open Testimony in Court deprive him of the means of procuring further Information.

Bs last report I thought it proper to enclose. The Information of Taylor respecting the Arming at the Potteries if correct — affords Cause for Alarm.—In disturbed Neighbourhoods – there should in my humble opinion be a Power vested somewhere to disarm all Persons excepting such as may be authorised by Majistrates or the Civil Officers to have them in their Possession.—The use made of the Fire Arms in the attack of Mr. Burtons Works at Middleton in this County—and against Mr Cartwrights Works in the County of York—& the nightly seizing of Arms lately practised by the Rioters in the Neighbourhood of Huddersfield in the said latter County – seem to me to require a stronger remedy than any which is capable of application under any existing Law.—

I am afraid there will not be time sufficient before the special assizes to avail ourselves of Bs Information in respect to John Buckley and therefore it seems to be a subject deserving of consideration whether when the Bill now pending in Parliament, if passed into a Law, will absolve all Persons who have administered or taken on unlawful Oath (on their confessing their Guilt & subscribing the Oath of Allegiance) from the Pains & Penalties of the existing Law – or whether Buckley, & others similarly circumstanced if apprehended after the said Bill shall have passed into a Law & before any such confession, can avail themselves of a subsequent confession – & by that means escape Trial and Punishment.

Arthur Gordon mentioned by B as having fled is one of the Persons charged with being concerned in the Murder of Charles Chadwick of Westhoughton about 3 years ago—John Lever, the other Person charged, is now in Custody - and has been remanded, waiting untill Gordon shall be taken. Harper the accuser (a Convict under sentence of Transportation) being, I fear, an Accomplice, it will require some collateral Testimony to bring the Offenders to Justice – and this will require more time than the Interval to the Special Assizes will afford & therefore this matter must, I fear, be deffered to the Autumn General Assize. Gordon & Lever have long been Associates in Sidition. The latter when last taken into Custody, was under bail on a charge of drinking “the Death of the King”, and it therefore becomes more necessary to keep him in Custody under the Hope that he may be brought to capital Punishment on the charge of Murder, which would render any Prosecution for Sidition unnecessary.—Trusting you will excuse my Prolixity — I remain

Dear Sir
Yours most faithfully
Ra: Fletcher

18th May 1812: The Manchester spy, John Bent, files his latest report for Colonel Fletcher

On Monday 18th May 1812, Colonel Fletcher's spy 'B' (aka John Bent), finished another report for his master.

On 12th May, Bent had met a delegate called Taylor from Newcastle-under-Lyme from Staffordshire. Taylor brought the usual tale of high numbers of those 'twisted-in' and weapons ready to be used: he told Bent that 7000 men were sworn-in and they had 2380 guns, pistols and swords. Others were ready with Pikes. Irish delegates were passing through the town, bringing the usual news about hundreds of thousands being ready, that had been a feature of Bent's reports for months. Bent described Taylor as being 5'7" tall with a dark complexion, of slender build with dark eyes, a bold speaker, 'hath a good utterance' and dressed 'genteel' in black, wearing boots.

Bent had met another man from Huddersfield. He told Bent that all the local Croppers were twisted-in to an oath along similar lines they already knew about, but with the following difference:

they are to helpe haid & asist to the best of their power & ability in destroying all Mechenery who May be determental to them or deemed so and Bound to keep the secerit at the forfit of their life

Bent went on to say of the Huddersfield Croppers that "it is impossable to stop them at present".

Bent then related how the Committees in Manchester had now done all that they could to move away from machine-breaking and assassination. He related how the weavers had even stopped twisting-in, mainly because there had been a dispute between them and the spinners, tailors and shoemakers committees. Things were so bad that the spinners had stopped paying subscriptions.  The head of the weavers secret committee, John Buckley Booth, had sent his wife to the head of the spinners to demand payment, threatening to hand himself in to the authorities and to tell all if subscriptions were not paid up. The reply sent back was that Booth should 'do his worst'. In the meantime, the weavers' secret committee had destroyed their papers, fearing they were compromised. Bent gave a description of Buckley Booth: 5'4" tall, thin, 'tallow complexion' and an ex-dissenting preacher.

Bent believed that these three committees would not be allowed to send delegates to the Committee of Trades meetings and the different direction this group was now taking - that of petitioning for peace and parliamentary reform. He reported that despite the occupation of the area by the military and the other measures in place that the spinners, tailors, shoemakers, bricklayers, fustian cutters, joiners and other trades still met at least once a week.

That day, the 18th, Bent had attended a meeting of trades, to take forward the petition for peace and parliamentary reform. Delegates attended from Huddersfield, Saddleworth, Glodwick, Hollinwood, Ashton, Audenshaw, Denton, Stalybridge, Stockport & Manchester. The meeting lasted 6 hours and passed 5 resolutions: all agreed to the wording of the petition, which was read out. The committees from Saddleworth and Stalybridge funded the printing costs, contributing £1, 11 shillings and 6 pence. Bent himself was again elected to the role of treasurer and gave receipts. Bent promised to send Fletcher copies of the petition and resolutions as soon as he could.

Bent ended his report by stating that the drowned militia Sergeant Moore was an informer who had been found out. He had been working undercover for a Colonel Taylor.

15th May 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher informs the Home Office about more prisoners and a new suspect

Bolton le moors 15 May - 1812

Dear Sir/

I have the Honor to inclose - Copies of the additional Examinations―relating to the Six Persons committed to Lancaster on the 9th instants – viz – Peter Smith – Arthur Holden - Thomas Holden - James Holden - William Holden and Thomas Shelton—and also Examinations relating to James Knowles – and John Fisher – committed yesterday – and of Joseph Greenhalgh committed this day.—One of the Examinations (that of an Informant Joseph Lomax) seems to merit particular attention – inasmuch as it implicates his Employer – Thomas Hulme – one of the Partners in the House of Cooke & Hulme – who are considerable Bleachers – residing in this Neighbourhood.—He Hulme was some time back a Chairman of a meeting the Parliamentary Reform—and it may, without any great want of Charity, be said that his Encouragement or at least Connivance - has been one of the causes that so many of his men have been found to have attended the late seditious meetings. He is a most violent Character and appears as likely as any person in this Neighbourhood to commit himself by some Illegal Act—unless the Inroad made strongest his Workmen by Commitment to Lancaster shall teach him more caution.

I shall hold it to be my duty to aid & assist in the prosecution of the persons committed—conceiving that it will accord with the general Tenor of the conversations - I have had with you & our Correspondence―And although the Evidence of the numerous Witnesses – will be large in itself – & more particularly so on account of guarding them from the threatened attacks of the disaffected—yet I trust that Government will approve of all such measures as may be taken to render the Conviction of the guilty more certain.–]

The Death of Mr Perceval has filled all good Loyalists with Grief – and what is to be particularly lamented is that the Mob should have expressed Joy at such a melancholy occasion. It would appear as if John Bulls Character had experienced a change—and that is become fit for Treasons Stratagems & Spoils. The Loyalists here cannot accede to what is stated in the Public Prints―i.e. that Bellingham had no political nature for committing the foul deed—We have from the general Language of the disaffected, and from some secret Information - of a suspected a Revolution (as mentioned in my Reports) expected to have taken place early in may – cannot refrain from entertaining an opinion that Bellinghams motives were revolutionary – but a little [Fear] will perhaps develop [more] of the System—

With the sincerest Respect
I remain [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

9th May 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher commits more prisoners to Lancaster Castle

Bolton 9 May 1812

Dear Sir/

Before the Post leave, I have just time to acquaint you that on the Night of Thursday last (7 instant) having previously received Information, from a person confined by the Special Constable under the Watch & Ward Act―there caused seventeen persons to be taken into Custody of which – after Examinations which have lasted yesterday & this day—I have committed to Lancaster the Six following persons – Thomas Holding—James Holding—William Holding Arthur Holding—Peter Smith and Thomas Shelton on the proofs exhibited by Edward Crompton Isaac Crompton & John Grime whose Informations (or Copies thereof) – I inclose.

Two have been discharged — several admitted to Bail & the remainder remanded for further Examination—The reluctancy at declaring what has passed - by any of the persons implicated is difficult to overcome - but one or two have declared – and I trust those committed may be brought to Justice—you will excuse any further Explanation—the mail is ready to set off

I have [etc]
Ra. Fletcher

8th May 1812: The Bolton Local Militia make arrests at Great Lever

At around 2.00 a.m. on Friday 8th May 1812, the Bolton Local Militia made a series of raids at cottages near to Thomas Hulme & Co's Bleachworks at Great Lever, near Bolton for Luddite suspects.

In depositions made subsequently, many of those who were subsequently discharged attested to the manner in which they were treated - unlocked doors being broken open and knocked off their hinges, family members being seized etc. A nightwatchman at the bleachworks, James Openshaw, observed the raids. All the suspects were taken to Colonel Ralph Fletcher's home at the Hollins to be questioned. Some were discharged almost as soon as they arrived, whilst others were questioned and given Bail.

The names of those seized, and subsequently discharged, are: James Rosthun, William Birchby, James Birchby, James Rothwell, John Taylor, William Garstang & Adam Thornley.